The new client arrived at Chen Industries on a Tuesday morning with expensive shoes, a warm smile, and the kind of effortless charm that made everyone in the lobby turn to look at him. His name was Adrian Hart, and according to the briefing Lucas had prepared, he was the CEO of a rapidly growing tech company looking for strategic partnership opportunities. Early thirties, single, and very obviously interested in me from the moment I walked into the conference room.
I noticed because Lucas noticed, and Lucas noticed everything.
"He's been asking about you," Lucas said quietly as we reviewed the meeting agenda in my office beforehand. His voice was carefully neutral, but his ears were already faintly pink, and I had learned to read that particular shade as "emotionally processing but trying very hard not to show it."
"Asking what?"
